saint1977

What was in there exhibit and topic-wise Halo? Guessing there was content around the Titanic? Might pay it a visit when I'm up for the Sunderland game and my birthday.

Some of the chants to Harry were hilarious although I thought one of them crossed the line of bad taste. The midweek win at Arsenal did take a bit out of us so impressive to get the win. Difficult to think of many better goals that you will see live than Pelle's, Mane's wonderful backheel/flick for Bertrand's goal has been somewhat overshadowed by Pelle and Austin's wondergoals which is a pity, great awareness. The first half bookings did mean we had to walk a tightrope when Zamora and Hoilett came on, why the latter wasn't selected ahead of Matt Phillips only Redknapp can answer. We did drop too deep after scoring the first but I do agree with Koeman's plan around not pressing quite so high up the pitch as last season - it does seem to be giving our players an extra 5-10% towards the end of games.

Great to see this and reinforces my view that the club is in very good hands. Glad now that I didn't join the bandwagon in the summer and although it is still early days it is gratifying to see messers Ashton, Smith, P Neville and Savage eating healthy slices of humble pie. Can't wait for the Sunderland game to come around and start out from Devon for another journey to SMS.

This - Chambers will get better and better. Shaw is a terrific talent but we definitely got a top fee for him in that position when other areas needed strengthening. Lambert is and will remain and a club legend but for once we've actually had a player for his best years and someone else can pay the medical bills and wages for a change when the legs have gone (also see Harry Redknapp at QPR). Think Rickie is being written off far too quickly up there though, his football brain is very sharp and he's never been blisteringly quick anyway. Lallana - again, got top money for him at 26. No-one doubts his talent but would he fit Koeman's system as well as Tadic does or it looks like Mane will? We've also got Long who is adaptable. Biggest issue for me would be his attitude - and also that type of player doesn't always age well plus there's always been a suspicion about his stamina. Joe Cole is an example of that. Lovren - we've missed him less than I feared but still a quality player IMO. Getting that fee for him has significantly strengthened our options and competition at CB so overall it is working out rather well for us so far. A lot of fans, me included, wanted 2 CBs brought in over the summer so was delighted we did it.

Drat - Ervine out, 310/7. Was hoping for 350 and another batting point, Wood should continue playing his shots. Essex likely to win although scoring slowly. Still, let's see what Glamorgan do on the surface tomorrow. Forecast looks decent for all 4 days at present so anything north of 350 gives the bowlers plenty to work with.

By far the best effort so far of all the sides who were inserted or batted first today. Can't blame Essex for preparing a green, slow one at Chelmsford that seamed all over the road, they got lucky in putting the opposition in again though. What's the forecast like for the next 3 days in Cardiff? Need to win I reckon, 300+ first up could put Cardiff under pressure.

This would be OK PROVIDED that Boruc can be recalled straight away if Forster gets an injury. Gazza desperately needs game time even more than Artur, which lower league sides (L1/2/Conference) have keeper injuries at the moment?

I'd be happy to see part of one stand (prob N'ham/K'Land corner) with safe standing because it would increase the capacity a bit for clubs without huge outlay and it would mean more people from lower-to-medium incomes could attend, particularly families because the club has to invest in the future generations. Not sure you'd attract the plastics in the pub though watching on streams, 12 pints of Carling is more important.

Possible Arsenal have looked but VW could cost £20m minimum because Saints don't need the £ and if Wenger is going to shell out £25m he might as well bid for Morgan who is different class. Anyway, Victor's agent seems to be very active so more likely to have come from that source.

This although very valid point from VFTT about pricing for the 11-18 age group. It'll stop a lot of parents on middle incomes being able to send their kids to games on anything other than birthdays etc or treats so I do urge the club to change that for next season. However, I do think the streams really hinder clubs with medium-large fanbases such as ours whereas the top 6 don't get so affected by it. I don't blame people that can't afford to go regularly or live far away watching on a stream because tickets at all levels cost too much (even for the Devon clubs in L2) but it does my head in that you've got so-called 'fans' who live walking or bus ride distance away in pubs watching for free and then spending their ticket money (and more) getting bladdered on Stella/Carling. I'd love to have an ST again and go every game but the petrol cost is a killer so have to ration the games a bit more.

Don't see the problem with people donating to the dog's home, an immediate need for capital help was there because the insurance - assuming they had it - won't cover it all by a long chalk. I donated to Franny's run because it thought it was a fantastic but then I also donated a decent amount to two friends running for Macmillan and British Lung Foundation. My point? The dog's home is a one-off tragic event and will therefore generate more of a one-off reaction from the public whereas the push to fund the research to reduce the impact of cancer is massively important but on-going, with massive and diverse fundraising activities from all different segments of society. If human beings treated animals better, there would be less need for dogs homes on that scale. People could always donate to BOTH instead of moaning about one cause - not getting at Adrian or any one poster here - being more important than the other. Wonderful effort by Franny in summary and to raise a substantial six-figure sum and raise so much publicity will do wonders for CRUK. That great welcome on Saturday shows the esteem he is held in by Saints fans and terrible that he was allegedly excluded from SFC in the first place.

I don't think he's said anything that hasn't already been posted on here. The buys were generally well received, the squad on paper looks stronger now it's a question of how they perform over the season. As people have said, look at Hull, Leeds and many other clubs, MP could have new owners to deal with this season at Spurs. I think Saints fans should feel fairly content all things considered (well apart from the traffic tomorrow - finally get the summer holidays out of the way and now the flippin' boat show).

Good question indeed - the sides that finish 3rd and 4th won't be happy although Worcs hired him in good faith so probably no comeback on them. Can't see Pakistan doing much at the WC without him though.

I just donated - the numbers have picked up this week and hopefully we'll see a sharper rise as we get towards Saturday. Would like to see more current and ex-footballers putting some in. It's great that MLT, Shearer, Austin etc are helping but would like to see more from others in the game.

As Windows said, they've prepared a slow seaming wicket for day 1 and prayed that they won the toss and put Kent in. That would suit Essex's slow-medium attack, particularly David Masters who is hard to get away but no batsman worth their salt in the 4 day format should be getting out to him unless it's really doing plenty. Kent's top order has been flaky for a while although Billings as the wicketkeeper-bat looks useful. Northeast has scored runs but Rankin sorted him out recently in the One Day semi so he struggles against proper fast-medium bowling. Surrey have got off to a flyer v Worcs, Adams was right to be targeting over-taking Worcs although hope Worcs can restrict them with the weather set fair. Buck has signed for Lancs, pity, as I posted earlier he'd have been ideal for Hamps.

Even for the skates, calling for the manager's head in early September is deluded. Especially so after a near-record unbeaten run until two games ago and having lost to the early leaders who were in the play off final in May.

I agree, was no need for any of the personal attacks, criticism of club actions and policies is perfectly valid but a small minority of posters were just vindictive for the sake of it. Imagine having to work with those posters during the day or be related to them? I couldn't see any of the club's board logging on here because I think people are well aware of what a small segment of fans at most clubs can be like, not least behind the cover of a keyboard. However, hopefully the mods will delete anything of a similar nature in the future.

They've had huge political problems for quite some time. I know Hoggard complained of problems when he was captain and there was talk of a sit-down protest against the then-chairman. Buck has impressed me when I've seen him, he's not the rising star he was in his late teens when he was leading the England U19 attack but his record is still not bad in such a struggling side and at Hampshire I think he'd do really well. Shouldn't cost too much in wages and at 23 could still kick on into international cricket. He looks highly likely to be moving on and would get a game with us. As for Leicestershire, I'm confident if they played Devon, minor counties champions again, they'd get a walloping. Mind you, Somerset loaned them Jamie Overton back and when his radar is right, he can be very quick with bounce to match. In terms of your point about Essex over-taking us, I agree, their bowling attack couldn't pull the skin off a rice-pudding with Napier not fully fit and they'd do well to bowl anyone out twice.

Bless them - I must have completely imagined: - Coventry away circa early 00s where the skates wrought havoc and according to one senior W Midland copper 'came to Coventry with the intention of violence' - Waterloo Station, the pub they and Millwall totalled (Windmill?) - 2004 and Goldsmith Avenue's welcoming party for our fans - Last season's pitch invasion and disorder at Griffin Park Those are the ones I can remember off the top of my head - or I am imaging it all?

I see Nathan Buck may be available from Leics. Has disappointed in the last couple of years but a bit like Coles, with the right coaching and environment he could prosper. Still young and can up towards 90mph. Seems to be a lot of political turmoil at Grace Rd which can't be helping young players there, see Thakor leaving for Derbys.

I agree with this, great to see us probably getting promotion and looking like a successful season. However, the bowling attack needs a couple of major signings - a quick opening bowler as our overseas signing in particular. Whether that would be better than a spinner depends on whether Briggs can rediscover his mojo. Coles will be a good other opening bowler/first change, Ervine is useful 4th/5th since he gained pace but Wood/Tomlinson are similar at 4 day level.

I agree with most of this and certainly S-Clarke's post on the subject. I did finally get cross at the Chambers sale but it appears that Cortese took a pragmatic approach of tying him to a contract for a larger sale later, as he probably did with Shaw, that had a release clause rather than losing him for a pitiful £2m 'development fee'. So no blame attached to either Cortese or the new board structure, just the sick free market of football which the club are trying to use to our best advantage. The sales profit minus buying costs and agent fees should clear some of the Staplewood arrears and the club appears in rude health. Still a few contract issues to sort out - Cork, Clyne etc. Thankfully the club have jettisoned the culprit from the 'financial difficulties' statement and some of the earlier PR gaffes appear to have been learnt from. Koeman was a super appointment and his stature in the game has played a key role in stabilising the club. Good strength shown on the Morgan front which has helped a lot of the fans back onside. As for Neil Ashton and the Mail, yes they were friendly with Cortese but Ashton's main beef is that he's a dinosaur who can't abide the thought of a successful British medium-to-large sized football club being owned by a woman.

That Leeds Press Office tweet is appalling! Another very unhappy club is Blackpool - did they actually sign anyone yesterday? I know there's the loan window to come but they are desperately short of players, owner and manager at loggerheads and terrible start. In terms of the PL, I think Saints probably did as well from the window as they could with the very difficult hand dealt to them. Shaw was already out of the door it seems and appears Chambers had a clause which Arsenal were aware of. The captain seemed to be disrupting the whole fabric of the club and the talisman/legend got his dream move at the end of his career. Although I think we paid a bit too much for Long, otherwise I'm delighted with the activity and whilst we've lost a little quality and understanding, we have far more depth than last year and more pace. Man U - no idea what the strategy is. Arsenal look short for a title challenge but have a feeling Wellbeck will surprise a few people and Theo to return from his ACL. Chelsea had the best window in the league and City bought well but didn't offload quite as much as they should - Richards and Rodwell left but Sinclair still there. Spurs as several posters have highlighted look light on strikers although MP's system is best suited to a single striker. However, Soldado can't perform that for them so they'd better hope Adebayor stays fit. Hull did very well after Snodgrass's horror injury. West Ham bought quite nicely but a lot of their goal threat depends on their big money Ecuadorian hitting the ground running - and we know how difficult that can be! Monk did some very effective business at Swansea - not least Gomis on a free and keeping Bony. Expect them to finish top 10. Newcastle were so-so, lots of creativity but light up-front and lost a crowd favourite in Ben Arfa to Hull. Sunderland - did OK but Alvarez was the stand-out, should be 12-14th. Leicester made some sound buys, Ulloa has surprised me and Tom Lawrence was a gem of a buy from Man U last night. QPR have bought well enough to survive - although Harry is getting Hoddle to do most of his work for him - but would be concerned for Burnley. WBA - big influx of players and need a couple of quick wins so the fans don't turn on Irvine. Not sure he can combine them as effectively as Koeman might for us. Everton impressive though and should be top 6. Hard to tell with Liverpool - impressive on Sunday but lack balance for me. Lovren has begun well and will become a real asset, Lambert is an impact player for them but could be a frustrating season for Lallana. Villa have started well but will struggle if they get any more than 2-3 injuries.

Neil Ashton adding 2+2 = 5. Not surprising that a Mail journalist can't add up as he certainly can't spell - it's 'game' not 'gem' you thick t wat. With 2-3 new arrivals and hopefully no major departures at SFC, time to read it and weep Neil. He'll be weeping even more soon once UKIP cut the Tory party in half.

I totally agree on Johnson, he's toilet which is appropriate given his past track-record in DIY stores. I too would have preferred Clyne as would I suspect a lot of Saints fan but wasn't Jiminez saying at an event before MP left that Chambers was considered a better RB by the coaching staff? Koeman doesn't agree and took the dosh for Chambers. All I'm saying is that perhaps MP's view is in line with that of England coaching staff (wrongly IMO). Clyne still has positional faults that need ironing out, Chambers is slower and possibly better suited to CB. All in all I'm saying that Clyne is the best option out there but England hasn't had a genuine top drawer RB since Gary Neville. Whereas I think Shaw will be once fit and his Man U career gets underway. Mind you, LVG might be gone by then!